On April 1, Clinton, the former secretary of state under Obama who ran for the presidency in 2008 and 2016 without success, appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.” When asked by host Jimmy Fallon if she had any words for Americans hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2020 election, her response was straightforward: “Get over yourselves. Those are the two choices.”
Fallon appeared to endorse her response, while ESPN sports analyst Stephen A. Smith expressed a less favorable opinion. On the following day, he voiced his criticism of her remarks, suggesting they lacked wisdom. Furthermore, Smith delved into her election strategy in 2016, highlighting Trump’s victory over her. He also addressed her failure to campaign in crucial swing states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania toward the end of the race, as well as the controversy surrounding her confidential email scandal.
Smith omitted to address how Clinton stirred controversy by referring to potential Trump supporters as a “basket of deplorables,” though his cautionary remark about avoiding actions that might upset potential voters in this election could suggest he was alluding to that incident.
In this election cycle, Clinton has avoided making offensive statements like before. Yet, the fact remains that many Americans are frustrated with having the same two presidential candidates as in the last election, and their reasons for feeling this way are understandable. By casually dismissing their concerns, Clinton risks alienating potential Democratic voters, echoing her actions in 2016.
